Automatic animal trap



July 28, 1925.

G. F. FISHER AUTOMATIC ANIMAL TRAP Filed June 28, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 llllllllli!!! llilillllllili/ July 28, 1925. I I 1,547,375 G. F. FISHER AUTOMATIC ANIMAL TRAP Filed June 28, 1922 s Shets-Sheet 2 \s m as N N 2%") N QEO qQFEYJwMr July 28,1925. 1,547,375 G. F. FISHER AUTOMATI C ANIMAL TRAP Filed June 28, 1922 s Shets-Sheet 5' @www v the action of from which it. cannot Patented July 28, 1925.

GEORGE F. risnnn,

PATENT. orricizi.

or LEEDEY, OKLAHOMA.

AUTOMATIC ANIMAL TRAP. 1

Application filed June 28,

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, GEORGE F. FISHER, a citizen of. the United States, residing at Leedey, in the county of Dewey and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new an useful Improvements in Automatic Animal Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to animal traps and has special reference to an automatic resetting cage trap.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of cage trap wherein the operation of the trap will be effected in a novel and improved mannerby an animal such as a mouse or rat entering the trap, as well as to provide an improved automatic means for coaxing the animal from one part of the trap to the other until it arrives at'the inner chamber find exit. Also provision is made of novel character for displaying the bait before the animal in such an improved manner as will induce it to enter'the first passage or vestibule of such a trap.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically claimed. v

Figure 1 isa perspective view ofatrap constructed in accordance with this invention. I

Figure 2 is alongitudinal median section taken vertically through the trap.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure Figure 2 V Figure '5 is a section on the line 55.

In the present embodiment of the inven- 4 is a section on the line of tion there is provided a trap having a bottom 1O, side wallsll, a rear wall 13. Across the trap somewhat closer to the front wall than the rear wall extends the partition 14 and about half way from this partition to the rear wall is a second partition 15. j

The top of the trap is formed at a rear portion .16 whichm-ay be of'imperforate material and a front portion 17 preferably of screen wire, the rear portion of the trap ex tending rearwardly from the partition while the front reticulated portion extends forwardly from such partition. In the front 1922. Serial No. 571,463.

wall 12 at the bottom central portion thereof is formed an opening 18 and extending rearwardly from this front wall at each side of the opening 18 is a longitudinal partition 19 which terminates rearwardly against the transverse partition 14:. Extending rearwardly from the opening 18 is a floor 20 At each-side of the floor 20 the longitudinal partition is formed of imperforate material, this taking theplace of the reticulated material 19 at these points.

upward toward the rear and at its rear end is hinged to the front end of a drop floor 22. Spaced above'the floor 20 is a ceiling or top plate 23, to the rear end of which is hinged a movable top plate 24. The movable floor 22 and the plate 2& are connected at their rear ends by rods 25. At the top of the floor part of the trap is a spring 26 which is connected by means of a rod 27 with the rear end of the top plate 2 Thus, this spring, through the rod 27., holds the movable floor 22 normally elevated. The longitudinal partitions 21 and floor 20 are spaced slightly to the rear of the front wall so that between this floor and the front wall may drop a front door 28 which is normally held elevated by the engagement of a hook 29 on its upper edge 'with a similar but reversely positioned hook 30 on the spring 26. Extending through the partition 14 is a lever 31 to the forward end of which is connected a short'chain 32 which 'in turn connected to; the top of the door 28.. The rear end of this-lever 31 is counterbalance 33 held in adjusted position on the lever by a screw 3i. I

' Extending upward from the floor 10 between the partitions 14. and 15 are standards 35 whereon is mounted a verticallysliding latform 36carrying a screen 'w-ire cylinder 37 having its ends'open and extending from op V is so positioned that, fully raised, the opening 38 will afford easy access to the cylinder 37, this cylinder. constituting an elevator cage. In order the cylinder 37 normally alined with the opening 38' there is provided a transverse rod 39 extending between the side walls 11 and on this" rod is mounted alever iOwhich overlies the cylinder 37 and has its front end connected to such cylinder by a chain 412 with the top of the combined counterweight provided with a to-hold The floor 20 slopes and door 43 which normally closes the open ing 44 in the b ttom of the partition 15. The

an opening 48 in the respective side wall 11, this opening being normally closed by a swinging door49 of reticulated material. Each door 49 is held shut, when closed, by a latch 50. In the operation of the device the animal, upon discovering the bait in the trap, noses around the outside of the trap until it passes inward beyond the side walls21 and upon stepping on the movable or drop floor rear a,

There has thus been provided a simple and l 7 mg means for connection I to 22, its \velght causes this floor to "move downward. The downward movement of this floor pulls downward on the rods 27 and releases'the latch hooks 30. This permits the lever 81 also, assumes this dotted line position. Now the rear end of this leveris connected by a chain 51 with the elevator cyl-' inder 37. WVhen the animal finds his exit; cut oil by the door 28 he will pass into this elevator cylinder and assoon as this is'done the cylinder will drop. The dropping of the the trap will again beset ready for afsecond animal. lVhen it is desired to "remove the animal it is merely necessary to open the door: 46 provided for this purpose;

efficient device of the kind the purposes specified. Having thus described the invention, what isclaimed as new, is ri 1. "A rat trap consisting of a cagelike outer structure provided With a partition spaced from the rear end described and for anda counterweight havthe elevator cage and normally closing the door opening; saidcounterweight moving to open the reaches the vestibule. It there door upon downward movement of the elevator under the weight oftan ,animal.

2 A rat trap consisting of a cagelike outer structure having a normally open front a raisedopening therein, a second partition spaced rearwardly of the first and having an 'opening therein displaced downwardly with relation to the opening in the first partition, an elevator cage between sa1d partltlons and having open ends, sa1d cage bemg movable counterweight normally constituting a, door for the'opening in the second partition.

rat trap consisting outer structure having a normally open front door arranged to cl displaced downwardrelation to the opening in the first an elevator cage between said partltlons and having open ends, said cage lease of thefrontdoor, a counterweight having operative connection Wltll' SL1d elevathe same raised, sa1d of a cagelike V counterweight normally"constituting a'door for the opening in thesecondzpartition, 1 p tingof cakelike outer structure having a nornrallybpen front door arranged to close by tlie actionfof gravity and a vestibuleleadingtherefrom, tion at the rear of the raised opening thje reiir, second spaced rearwardly of thefiretand; aving an d downwardly with 

